Friday, 15 April 2016

Some interesting facts of oil lamps in Hinduism - 01

Deepam or light is associated with many religions, in particular,
Hinduism. The other religions that come to our mind are Buddhism,
Jainism, Christianity and Judaism. The deepam, with particular reference to oil lamps, is personification of
knowledge, purification of our mind and elimination of darkness and
ignorance from the mind and heart. Light is the symbol of knowledge and energy. With out light, there will be darkness around us. Hence deepam or light is synonymous with knowledge and wisdom, Fire or
light is an important element of Pancha Boothas - five essential
elements of life according to Hinduism. They are fire, earth, water, air and sky - without them, survival on the planet for all living things is just impossible. Among the Pancha Boothas, fire or deepam is the only element that can never be
polluted permanently. It shines on its own and causes the objects
around it to shine due to its ability to reflect. The fire, which is at the middle
of the five elements, gives power and heat, imparting spark in
the middle. Among the three Sandhyas or Kaalams or junctures, we don't need light
when the Sun shines during the day. But the other two Sandhyas at early dawn and
dusk, we need the help of lamp.

In Hinduism fire or burning of oil lamp plays an integral part. When the learned Pundits conduct Homams or Yagna, they prepare Agni kundam - fire pits for fire to propitiate the god.

Burning
of oil lamps is an important part of Hindu temple rituals. This
practice is widely observed in Churches and in many Indian mosques or Durgahs as
well. The popular Hindu festival of Deepawali or Diwali is closely associated with light signifying the victory of the good over the evil. So is the festival of Karthikai Deepam which is quite popular in South India.The following are the amazing facts:

01. It is very important to light oil lamp before starting our daily prayers and of chanting shlokas / mantras. There are different deepams - Ghee deepam, Gingerly deepam, etc.

02. Burning of oil-lamps or deepams in Hindu temples is a daily ritual. Some may use ghee to light the
deepam instead of oil; gingerly / sesame oil is commonly used to get the oil lamp going.03. It is strongly believed that burning of oil lamps generates some positive energy and it boosts our morale when we pray intensely.

06. Lighting the ghee oil regularly at home will be beneficial and the beneficiary will enjoy all Aishwaryam and the required health and wealth. It will help those who sincerely work hard towards their goal. Mere lighting oil lamp will not benefit without hard work.

07. If we light the lamp with
castor oil, it is said, that we will have happy married life with sustained peace of mind, tranquility and will be able to maintain
good relations with wife and other relatives.

09. Light a deepam or lamp in pure ghee; preferably of cow’s milk; or in mustard
oil and say your prayers before the deepam every morning before you go out and every evening after you return home

10. Never light up the lamp with ground nut oil before god and iot is not advisable.

11. In
all shrines including Sri Kovil or Garbagraha, the oil lamps will be
continuously burning right before the deities and also at certain
places on the temple premises.. So also in almost all Hindu houses.

12. It is strongly believed that the lamps lit with til oil will keep the poisonous snakes and others away by it smell.

Among the many festivals celebrated at Arunachaleswarar temple (dedicated to Lord Shiva) in Tiruvannamalai, Tamil Nadu throughout the year, Karthigai Deepam
is the most significant festival that is celebrated with utter devotion and reverence. It normally takes placce in the month of November after Diwali. On the Karthgai deepam day in all Hindu homes across India, in particular, south India oil lamps will be lit in the Hindu homes and temples after the Maha Karthigai Deepam is lit on the Arunachala hill in the late evening behind the temple at Thiruvanamalai. Here the Karthigai Deepam is celebrated as a ten day festival on a grand scale and it is attended by more than a million people. The state government makes special arrangements during the festival days for the comforts of the devotees. Ref: http://theancientindia.blogspot.in/2012/08/deepam-lighting-lamp.html

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I am KN.Jayaraman, Retd Geologist, author of this blog. I have a strong passion for Ancient Indian Culture, art, architecture, etc...
I started this blog with a view to covering the above areas and also odd things related to India.
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